TOURVILLE, Rene Rodolphe (1897-1962) was one of a number of French-educated designers who introduced innovative ideas for contemporary Art Deco design to the Montreal area. Born in Louisville, Que. on 24 August 1897 he was educated in Montreal at the Ecole Polytechnique where he graduated in 1921. He then moved to Paris to work and to study at the Ecole-des-Beaux-Arts, obtaining his degree in 1928. The following year he opened his own office in Montreal and later formed a partnership with Lucien O. Parent in 1936. His interpretation of the moderne style was often executed in brick rather than stucco cladding; notable examples of his work include the G. Lord Residence (1935), and his own house (1937), both of which combine simple planar massing, horizontal ribbons of windows and distinctive entrances flanked with stone pylons. Tourville died in Montreal on 7 October 1962 (obit. La Presse [Montreal], 9 Oct. 1962, 59, with port.; biog. & port. in the National Reference Book, v, 1936, 749-50)
R.R. TOURVILLE
(with Charles David & J.J. Perrault) EGLISE ST. GERMAIN, Ste. Catherine Road at Bellingham Road, 1930 (C.R., xliv, 30 July 1930, 61; Montreal, Les Eglises, 1981, 214-17, illus.)
(with J.E. Perrault & I. Vautrin) LAC l'ACHIGAN, Tuberculosis Hospital for the Bruchesi Insitute, 1932-33 (C.R., xlvi, 30 Nov. 1932, 31)
ST. GENEVIEVE-DE-BATISCAN, QUE., rebuilding of the Roman Catholic Church, 1933 (C.R., xlvii, 22 March 1933, 78)
OUTREMONT, residence for Mrs. Gabriel Lord, Mount Royal Avenue, 1935 (Outremont b.p. 3026, 18 June 1935)
OUTREMONT, duplex for J. Lapointe, Willowdale Avenue, 1936 (Outremont b.p. 3141, 14 Oct. 1936)
OUTREMONT, residence for the architect, Kelvin Avenue, 1937 (Outremont b.p. 3264, 19 Oct. 1937)
TOURVILLE & PARENT
ST. JOSEPH'S ORATORY, Queen Mary Road, completion of the dome and vault, 1937; with decorative cross surmounting the dome, 1941 (C.R., liv, 14 April 1937, 107; R.A.I.C. Journal, xv, April 1938, 101; and liv, 5 March 1941, 34; Montreal Daily Star, 26 Oct. 1940, 3, descrip.)
EGLISE ST. JEAN BERCHMANS, Rosemont Boulevard at Chabot Street, 1938-39 (Gazette [Montreal], 14 May 1938, 4, illus. & descrip.; C.R., li, 25 May 1938, 34; inf. Scott Edwards)
OTTAWA, ONT., Our Lady of Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Church, Eccles Street at Le Breton Street, and new Rectory adjacent, 1939 (Ottawa Journal, 28 Jan 1939, 2, descrip.; 31 Jan. 1939, 12, illus.; 14 April 1939, 15, descrip.; C.R., lii, 1 Feb. 1939, 32)
ST. ANDREW'S, N.S., Roman Catholic Church, Shore Road, Eastern Passage, 1941 (C.R., liv, 2 April 1941, 30)
BANQUE CANADIENNE NATIONALE, Place d'Armes, bank and offices, 1949 (C.R., lxii, July 1949, 136)